Caretaker excos to run Ogun, Benue PDP

Following the expiration of the tenures of the Peoples Democratic Party executives in Ogun and Benue state, the National Working Committee of the party, on Thursday, appointed caretaker committees to manage the affairs of the two states’ chapters.

The PDP South-West Zone, on Thursday, inaugurated a 13-man caretaker committee to run the Ogun State chapter for three months.

Similarly in Benue State, the outgoing PDP chairman, John Ngbede, confirmed to The PUNCH that the NWC had approved a caretaker committee to run the party’s affairs.

In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Thursday, the PDP Chairman, South-West zone, Kamorudeen Ajisafe, reeled out the mandate of the caretaker committee to run the Ogun PDP.

The caretaker committee is headed by a former member of the House of Representatives, representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Abiodun Awoleye.

Paul Ogunnubi was named as the secretary, while the members are Semiu Sodipo; Taiwo Akinfenwa; Afolabi Orekoya; Remi Odubote; Boye Adesina; Jemilat Alagbe; Dimeji Fabiyi; Kayode Olurin; Seun Salisu; Sharafadeen Awotunde and Dapo Ayodele.

Ajisafe explained that the directive came from the national headquarters of the party to inaugurate the committee to unite all the aggrieved PDP members for the success of the party in future elections in the state.

He said, “We wish to inform you that the National Working Committee of our great party, the PDP, has, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and following the expiration of the party executive committees at levels in Ogun State, approved a 13-man caretaker committee for Ogun State.

“Accordingly, the committee’s assignment took effect from July 28, 2024 and is charged with the responsibility of running the affairs of the party in the state, as stipulated in Section 21(2)(a-b) of our party’s constitution for a period not exceeding three months or till a new executive committee is elected.”

In Benue, the appointment of a caretaker committee came in the wake of an internal crisis engulfing the party.

Last Saturday’s ward congress led to the suspension of the state chairman, secretary and organising secretary by members loyal to the immediate-past governor of the state, Samuel Ortom.

In a swift response, the State Working Committee, led by Ngbede, also slammed suspension on the former governor.

The development came as the state High Court sitting in Gboko, on Thursday, restrained the party from conducting the congress scheduled for Saturday in six Local Government Areas.

The congress was to elect new officials of the party in the LGs who will now elect officials of the State Working Committee.

The restraining order was signed by Justice J. M. Ayua in a motion ex parte brought before the court.

The applicants in the suit are Orker Jev, Terseer Tsumba, Aondoyina Grace, Tergun Tsegba and 13 others.

According to their counsel, F.T. Anongo and G.M. Tyoh, the applicants prayed for a restraining order preventing the party from proceeding with LG congresses until it determined the reason the ward congress scheduled for July 27 did not take place.

The affected local government areas were Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Kwande, Ushongo, and Konshisha.

The defendants in the suit are the PDP, the acting national chairman, the national organizing secretary and the state chairman of the party.

“It’s hereby ordered that respondents, their agents, servants or privies are restrained in the interim from conducting local government congress election scheduled from 10/8/24 in only six local governments in Benue State,” the restraining order read.

The motion on notice was fixed for hearing on August 16.

Confirming the constitution of the caretaker committee, Ngbede told our correspondent that he had with him the letter from the national leadership of the party.

“Yes, I receive the letter. You know I told you earlier that our tenure has expired and the possibility of the National Working Committee to constitute a caretaker committee for the party in the state was possible,” he said.

The party’s resolution to constitute the committee was contained in a letter signed by the National Organising Secretary of the party, Umar Bature and addressed to the state chairman of the party, Ngbede.

The letter, dated August 7, 2024, entitled, “Re: Notification of Tenure Expiration of State Executive Committee,” read, “This is to formally notify you of the expiration of the tenure of the current state executive committee of our party in Benue, having been elected four years ago, that is, August 08, 2024.

“The expiration is due to the effluxion of time, under Section 47 of the party’s constitution.

“Please, note that to avoid a vacuum, the National Working Committee has resolved to constitute a fresh state caretaker committee for your state.”